NFLA Admin – Page 4

2018 North Fork Firewise Day Presentation

2018 North Fork Firewise Day | photo by Allen Chrisman

The NFLA’s Fire Mitigation Committee sponsored its annual Firewise Day workshop on July 18, 2018, preceding the Summer Interlocal meeting. About 45 people attended the program. For more information and excellent recommendations on how to prepare for a wildland fire, tap here to read a summary co-authored by Molly Shepherd and Allen Chrisman.

The summary mentions the draft Strategic Planning Section of the 2018 North Fork Flathead Wildfire Mitigation and Planning Report. If you would like to download that, then tap here. Comments are welcome on the draft Strategic Planning Section – please submit them to Allen Chrisman at achrisman52@gmail.com.

Allen Chrisman has made a copy of the PowerPoint presentation available for everyone, especially folks who weren’t able to attend. You can download the file by tapping here. Please be warned. The file is over 50MB. You might want to wait until you get on a computer that has unlimited download!

Thank you Molly Shepherd and Allen Chrisman (co-chairs) for all of your hard work putting this together.

For more Fire Mitigation news, please see the NFLA Fire Mitigation page.

Reminder – 1st aid, CPR, and AED Certification – Aug. 14

This is a reminder that Bob Lee is providing training with certification in 1st aid, CPR, and AED at Sondreson Hall on Tuesday, August 14th starting at 9AMand lasting most of the day. Please bring your lunch and drinks. Cost is $45, and is limited to 10 individuals. Contact Bill Walker 406-407-2764 or wkwalker@nvdi.comto reserve a spot. The class is filling up, so don’t wait and sign up today.

Please note the cost is different than published originally in the calendar. It’s $45, not $35.

Class in Wild Land Fire Control – August 9

Here is a message from the Heitz…

Rick Trembath of Flathead Forestry and Fire Consulting will be conducting a class in Wild Land Fire Control at Sondreson Hall at 10:00 am on Thursday, August 9. Trembath, some of you will remember, was head of structure protection on the Wedge Fire in 2003, and chief of the Big Fork Fire Department. He should know his material well, having retired from USFS after many years just before the Wedge.

If you are interested in learning how you can contribute to working on fire control on your own property, or helping the North Fork Irregulars (who are getting old, you know) in slowing a smaller fire start until USFS crews can arrive, please plan on attending. There may be a charge for getting Trembath here, but, at this time, we aren’t sure of that.

Please notify Dick Leigh (dickleigh30@ hotmail.com), Kevin Ulrichsen, or Irv Heitz (chrisirv2@gmail.com) if you are planning to attend.

Janet :Leigh will provide the main lunch, but please bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share.

See you there!!

The Flathead Lake Biological Station

Here’s a message from Irv Heitz…

Those of you in attendance at Wednesday’s Interlocal Meeting learned of a new research presence in the North Fork, the Flathead Lake Biological Station. Dr. Rachel Malison is researching river and aquifer stonefly populations in the gravel beds of the river and floodplains. You will notice pvc test wells at spots along the river and in some locations on floodplains a bit farther from the river.

Please do not bother these site. If you have questions or concerns, you can contact Dr. Malison at 406-982-33-1 x 246, or check out flbs.umt.edu/apps/research/dob/default.aspx .

Dr. Malison may be looking for additional sites with access to the river or tributaries of the river to continue the study, so if you are interested, contact her.

I have also engaged her for a possible pre-NFLA meeting presentation next summer.

Time to Pay Your Dues!

Here’s a message from NFLA Secretary Dawn Olson Jacobson… Reminder that August meeting August 12 is elections for the NFLA in order to vote you need to be an active paid member $15.00 this money is used to pay for hall expenses and other things for the property. Please join the NFLA to help with our building. You can also join as an associate member for $10.00 just to help our building also all donations are gladly accepted. Think of the good times at New Years and other hall activities you enjoy at Sondreson Hall!

For more information on how to join and/or pay your dues, go to… Contact us

First Aid/CPR/AED class at Sondreson Hall – Aug. 14

Here is a note from Bill Walker…

I’d like to remind everyone that Bob Lee is giving his very popular and extremely useful First Aid/CPR/AED class at Sondreson Hall on Tuesday, August 14. It starts at 9:00am and should wrap up around 3:30 or 4:00pm. Bring your own lunch and drinks.

Class size is limited to 10 people. Contact Bill Walker, wkwalker@nvdi.comor 406-407-2764, to reserve a place.

Cost is $45 (not $35 as mentioned elsewhere). Bob accepts cash or checks.

The course includes American Heart Association certification in basic first aid, CPR and use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). Also, Bob throws in helpful advice on the sort of supplies to keep on hand in remote areas like the North Fork.

Note: If you happen to work for an organization requiring AHA approved basic first aid certification every two years. Bob’s course fulfills this requirement.

Calendar of Events for July 2018

Here is a note from Chris Heitz, Treasurer of the North Fork Landowners Association…

In talking to people over the 4th of July, it appeared that several of the great activities happening in July had already been forgotten. So here are a couple of reminders:

TODAY: Get your list of questions for the Summer InterLocal to Bill Walker at wkwalker@nvdi.netSomething bothering you? Get someone to give you an answer!

Sunday, July 87pm Colter Pence will be talking about the history of the 3 Forks of the Flathead becoming designated as Wild and Scenic Rivers
8 pm NFLA Meeting – bring a snack to share

Wednesday, July 11Float the river with Hosts Dick Leigh and Kevin Ulrichsen. Contact Dick Leigh at dickleigh30@hotmail.comfor details and meeting times.

Thursday, July 129:30 am Sondreson Hall PROTECT YOUR HOME Fire Mitigation done Professionally. Watch a video presented by Mark Boardman, Stoltze Lumber Company of the work they did thinning around a home. Then travel to the Ulrichsen property and see the results! Bring your own snack and drink.

Wednesday, July 189:30 am Sondreson Hall FireWise Day. See examples of fire mitigation on last year’s Lolo Peak, Sunrise, and Roaring Lion fires. Also updates on the upcoming fire season, and Grants available. NOON: Lunch provided by the NFLA, bring a side dish to share, and eat fast so you can purchase fresh produce from the Wernicks Garden in the parking lot. 1:00 pm Summer InterLocal Meeting with speakers from the County, Glacier Park, Forest Service, FWP. State Land, Border Patrol, & Trails Assn.

Saturday, July 218 am at Polebridge Merc. Join the NF Trails Assn as they hike to Coal Ridge Lookout. Contact Bill Walker atwkwalker@nvdi.netfor details & to sign up.
7 pm Sondreson Hall Annual Pie & Ice Cream Social & Square Dance. Bring a pie, and then churn ice cream to go on top! Square Dance with Debo calling.

Wednesday, July 2510 am at Hoilands. See the Kootenai Indian Trail with Duke Hoiland – don’t miss your chance to see the Trail and listen to the history. Limited to 12 people, contact Irv Heitz at chrisirv2@gmail.comto reserve your spot. Hotdogs served over the campfire afterwards – bring a side dish to share.

Friday, July 277 pm at Sondreson Hall Pie Auction and Crazy Hat Contest and Square Dance with Debo calling. Bring your best dessert, baked goods, or small misc items to enter in a Silent Auction – proceeds benefit Sondreson Hall. Then put on your Craziest Hat, or watch others, and see who will win the title this year. Square Dancing starts at 8 pm. Drinks and snacks provided by the NFLA, but feel free to bring ANOTHER dessert to share!

Monday, July 307 pm at Sondreson Hall Game Night. Join your neighbors, and play board games, cards, dominoes, or other games. Open to all ages, including children. Bring a snack to share.

Also, 10:30 every Sunday morning at Sondreson Hall join Don Sullivan for church services; bring a snack to share.

Hope you can find several things that interest you; feel free to let anyone from the Board know if you think of something to add for next year! Look forward to seeing you.

Training on How to Protect Your Home: Fire Mitigation Done Professionally – Mark Your Calendar for July 12

Come join neighbors and friends at Sondreson Hall on Thursday, July 12th at 9:30AM to learn how to protect your North Fork home. Watch fascinating videos and power point presentation by Stoltz Lumber’s Mark Boardman on thinning the forest around a home, and making open spaces for wildlife. Then travel to the Ulrichsen property, and see the results! 1 hr presentation, followed by a field trip of approximately 2 hrs. Mark Boardman also said we could get a tour of the Rittenburg property. This is the old Nature Conservancy property. Bring your own snack and drink. Kevin Ulrichsen, host